Mixed emotions for Ben McGlynn

Mixed emotions for Ben McGlynn - Yahoo7

Injured Swan Ben McGlynn admitted it was 'pretty tough' to watch on as his team-mates recorded one of the most memorable premiership victories in modern times against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

McGlynn injured his hamstring against Adelaide in the first week of the finals and was always up against it to feature again in season 2012.

The Swans did all they could to give him another chance of playing in the finals series by qualifying for the grand final, but McGlynn's unlikely bid to take on the Hawks was officially scuppered on Tuesday when he failed a fitness test.

Despite the heartache of missing out on being a part of a premiership team, McGlynn said he was proud of his team-mates, especially star midfielder and good mate Josh Kennedy who he moved up to Sydney with from Hawthorn at the end of 2009.

"It was pretty tough obviously watching and at the first bounce once the game started it was mixed emotions," McGlynn said at Sydney's family day at Lakeside Oval in Melbourne on Sunday.

"But the boys, the way they played the game, I was pretty proud of them the way they got over the line, and to beat my old team makes it a bit more special.

"Not to be a part of it obviously makes it hard but I'm very proud of the boys and could not be happier.

"Josh Kennedy, one of my good mates, I'm very proud of him ... we've been through (the experience of) moving from Hawthorn to Sydney (together).

"Obviously it was a bit disappointing to miss out but it was good to see that he could get a win against his old team."

But McGlynn, who also missed out on a chance to win a flag in 2008 with Hawthorn due to injury, is confident the Swans' current group of players will ensure his shot an elusive premiership won't be too far away.

"We've got Gary Rohan to come back, it was disappointing that he missed out on majority of the year (due to a badly broken leg) but he's going to add excitement to the footy club next year," McGlynn said.

"There's Harry Cunningham and Luke Parker ... he is going to be the next Jude Bolton of the footy club I believe so it's positive and hopefully we can get back to where we were yesterday.

"I've just loved every minute I've been at the footy club and hopefully the next few years there's good times ahead."

McGlynn praised the manner in which the Swans earned their premiership victory on Saturday and credited the 'Bloods spirit' as well as the leadership of co-captains Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh as major factors in their most recent success.

"The way the boys played was super, 109 tackles, the boys have got an attitude that we never say die and it's the Bloods spirit, it's a great culture to be a part of and you really want to get there and earn the respect of the boys," McGlynn said.

"Goodesy and Macca (McVeigh) they really drive the group, we've got a good culture, we really want to be a competitive team on the field and the way those guys lead the group it's not hard to follow and you want to follow because you want to be a part of it."

Coach John Longmire was full of admiration for the way both McGlynn and Rohan have conducted themselves this week.

"Benny McGlynn. I couldn't speak more highly of him, the way he's handled his absolute disappointment from Tuesday onwards has been sensational and a real credit to him," Longmire said.

"Gary since he broke his leg has been around the club all the time and working enormously on his rehab and we think he'll be a fantastic recruit for us."

"I thought he was about to go to another level as a player before he got injured, it'll be great to see him back in the red and white."